A chance encounter with a horror classic changed how Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner approached the AMC drama.
AMC dramaMad Menis one of the best TV series of its era or any other for that matter.
Mad Menpromos that say absolutely nothing became something of a meme.
Mad Mens aversion to spoilers was particularly funny because there really wasnt anything to spoil.Mad Menis for grown ups.
There are few storytelling twists or bombshells to be found within it.
There isnt a Marvel movie-esque moment in which another AMC character like Walter White cameos.
Theres only Don Drapers simultaneous dissatisfaction with and exploitation of the American dream.
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Matthew Weiner would occasionally be asked about the maddeningly vague promos in interviews.
Most of the time, he would sayhe just didnt like sneak previews.
And thats where, believe it or not, 1982 horror moviePoltergeistcomes in.
What follows is his transcribed, slightly paraphrased account:
This may be where my spoiler thing comes from.
I had this experience when I was in high school, my car broke down.
Im in Orange County, Im by myself.
I get the car towed, which is a huge pain in the ass before cellphones.
So now what do you do in Orange County?
Theres more movie theaters per square foot in Orange County than like any mall in America.
I went to the movies.
I walk in to see a movie that I know nothing about.
And Im laughing … its Poltergeist.
I gotta tell you something Its funny [in the beginning]!
Craig Nelson was really funny.
The kids theyre smoking dope at the beginning of the movie in their housing community.
You think its just a comment on Orange County.
And all of a sudden that hand reaches out of the TV.
Ive never been more scared of anything in my entire life.
It just got scarier and scarier and scarier.
Weiner very well may have though he was walking into a German-language family drama.
It would be a shame if someone spoiled that (like we just did).
So go watchMad Menbefore we spoil any more.
